Adaptable ultrasonic fiber optic cleaning methods

Abstract

A frequency of an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning an optical fiber can be varied, thereby facilitating removal of particles of various sizes. The control of the varying may be predetermined or may be closed loop. The control may also alter the duration of the application of the frequency. A container which insures a set position of the fiber and/or immersion of the fiber in a cleaning solution may be employed. The sizes of particles on the fiber to be cleaned may be determined and parameters for cleaning may be selected in accordance with the determined sizes.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of cleaning an optical fiber, comprising: 
       immersing the optical fiber in a solution;  
       generating ultrasonic waves in the solution;  
       determining at least one size of a particle contaminating a surface of the optical fiber by collecting image data of the optical fiber and processing the image data;  
       varying a frequency of the ultrasonic waves generated by said generating step; and  
       controlling said varying step according to the size of the particle determined by said determining step.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , 
       said controlling step controlling a duration time period for each frequency generated by said generating step according to the size of the particle determined by said determining step.  
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , said determining step determining sizes of particles on the optical fiber and wherein said control step controls said varying of the frequency in accordance with sizes of particles on the optical fiber determined by said determining step. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immersing includes exerting pressure on the optical fiber when the optical fiber is in position to be cleaned. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immersing includes positioning the optical fiber at a predetermined location. 
     
     
       6. A method of controlling a process of cleaning an optical fiber comprising: 
       determining a size of at least one particle on the optical fiber by collecting image data of the optical fiber and processing the image data; and  
       selecting a cleaning parameter to be applied to the fiber in accordance with the particle size determined by said determining step.  
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the process of cleaning is an ultrasonic frequency process and said selecting includes selecting a frequency of the ultrasonic frequency process to be applied. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein when said determining determines a range of sizes and said selecting selects a range of frequencies. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said selecting further comprises selecting a duration for which a selected frequency is to be applied. 
     
     
       10. A method of cleaning an optical fiber, comprising: 
       collecting a database of fiber cleaning information;  
       immersing the optical fiber in a solution;  
       generating ultrasonic waves in the solution to clean the optical fiber;  
       determining a particle size of at least one particle on a surface of the optical fiber by obtaining image data of the optical fiber and processing the image data; and  
       controlling said generating step according to the fiber cleaning information database collected by said collecting step and the particle size determined by said determining step.  
     
     
       11. The method of cleaning an optical fiber according to  claim 10 , 
       said collecting step collecting fiber cleaning information including duration of ultrasonic frequency application information and particle size information.  
     
     
       12. The method of cleaning an optical fiber according to  claim 10 , 
       said collecting step collecting fiber cleaning information including ultrasonic frequency information and particle size information.  
     
     
       13. The method of cleaning an optical fiber according to  claim 10 , 
       said collecting step collecting fiber cleaning information including ultrasonic frequency information, duration of ultrasonic frequency application information, and particle size information.  
     
     
       14. The method of cleaning an optical fiber according to  claim 10 , 
       said collecting step collecting fiber cleaning information including fiber information, solution information, container information, ultrasonic frequency information, duration of ultrasonic frequency application information, and particle size information.  
     
     
       15. The method of cleaning an optical fiber according to  claim 10 , 
       said collecting step storing the database of fiber cleaning information in a look-up table; and  
       said controlling step accessing the look-up table to control said generating step.  
     
     
       16. The method of cleaning an optical fiber according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
       performing a closed loop control of the fiber optic cleaning by iterating said determining and controlling steps until the optical fiber meets at least one cleanliness standard.  
     
     
       17. The method of cleaning an optical fiber according to  claim 10 , 
       said determining step including imaging substantially an entire circumference of the optical fiber.